[BiXLL]

I have always changed oil and rotated tires at the 3000 mile interval. I am approaching 2000 miles on my Titan, and am wondering if I should change early on the first oil vhange. I will be going to the M1 0/40 oil, and will continue to change at 3000 miles. I know you can stretch out the intervals with synthetic, but with having 3 vehicles, I am more concerned about length of time then I am miles.
Comments?????

 

[M4ck]

I have heard arguments on this subject for a long time. With todays engines and the synthetic oils it seems to me that vehicles should be able to go at least 5000 miles between changes. I personally would not go this long but if you ask me I believe its all numbers games with the oil companies and the Jiffy Lubes. But hey its just my opinion.
M4ck

 

[JetTech]

I have always changed oil and rotated tires at the 3000 mile interval. I am approaching 2000 miles on my Titan, and am wondering if I should change early on the first oil vhange. I will be going to the M1 0/40 oil, and will continue to change at 3000 miles. I know you can stretch out the intervals with synthetic, but with having 3 vehicles, I am more concerned about length of time then I am miles.
Comments?????

If you haven't dumped out the factory fill oil yet please do so at your earliest conveinance. The factory fill oil has a bunch of crap in it of which showed up in the oil sample I did on it from my truck at 1K miles.

You can use the M1 0W-40 from here on out if you want and can safely go with a 7500 mile change. The sample I had done at 5k miles was perfect and the TBN was still very high so it had lots of life left in it.

Two thumbs up for Mobil 1 0W-40!!

 

[Guest]

I just don't think I can make myself leave it in there for 7,500 miles! I will try to accept 5000, but don't even know if I can do that! Should I go ahead and change differential oil out now also? (M1 70/90)

 

[JetTech]

5k Miles is an easy number to remember so I don't blame you. And yes, definitely change the differential out as soon as you can as well. M1 75W-90 is an acceptable substitute and is 100% synthetic. I have directions on changing it out on my pic site at www.pixagogo.com/jetmechanic just look for the pic of the differential and there are instructions on it...

Let me know if you need any more info..

Dale

 

[Guest]

awesome site! Great Job!

 

[JetTech]

There's also a pic there on how to check your ATF too, that wouldn't be a bad idea to do as well.

 

[JohnInKY]

I used to always change my oil at 3,000 miles in everything I own. That was until last year when I bought my wife a VW Beetle Diesel. In accordance with the manual, you must use synthetic. I use M1 Delvac. The cool thing is I go 10K miles between oil changes. The guys on the VW forum have all the oil analyses to prove this is acceptable. It is hard to get used to, but it is doable. JetTech has proven, I think, 7500 miles with no problem. Right now I have 2500 miles on my Titan. i had the oil changed for the first time at 1200 miles. I plan to change again around 3500 and am contemplating going the 0W-40 route as suggested by JetTech. If I don't go to synthetic at that time, I will the next.

 

[JetTech]

Hey John, factually the only thing I've proven is 5500 miles on the M1 0W-40 because that's when I had the oil sample done. Blackstone Labs reported the TBN to still be quite high so I know it had lots of additives still left and was good for many more miles. I may or may not go to the 7500 mile mark mainly because 5K miles is sooooooo easy to remember. MikeZ is running Amsoil 10W-30 right now and is going to do a sample when he gets to 5K miles for comparison purposes.

I did see a report from a member on Titan Talk that had 4500 miles and was using Chevron Supreme, his report was excellent too. I've got a gut feeling that no matter what oil you put in these engines it's going to do fine because Nissan has done an excellent job with them. I just prefer to use synthetics because my truck sees redline everyday numerous times, I just want the added safety margin. If I drove it like a sane human being than it would be hard to justify the added cost of synthetics.

 

[BiXLL]

Hey JT, save me from looking it up, whats the fill amount for the differentials?

 

[JohnInKY]

JetTech, sorry, I was not trying to put words in your mouth. I guess I see such great benefits from using synthetic especially the convienence of extended drain intervals. After reading the VW forums and comments at bobishteoilguy.com, I realized I was changing my oil too often.

I know what you mean in saying that 5K miles is easier to remember than 7500. But, hey, 10K is also pretty easy....

 

[k9mrussell]

If you haven't dumped out the factory fill oil yet please do so at your earliest conveinance. The factory fill oil has a bunch of crap in it of which showed up in the oil sample I did on it from my truck at 1K miles.

You can use the M1 0W-40 from here on out if you want and can safely go with a 7500 mile change. The sample I had done at 5k miles was perfect and the TBN was still very high so it had lots of life left in it.

Two thumbs up for Mobil 1 0W-40!!

I am at 5500 miles and had the 1st oil change at the dealership when Nissan recommended at around 3500. Should I have done it sooner???? Should I go ahead and change again now with the syn.? I want this truck to last 500,000 miles, so I want to do what is best. I didn't even take it over 4,000 rpm's for the 1st 1,200 miles!

What should I do? Please help!!!!

 

[JetTech]

Hey JT, save me from looking it up, whats the fill amount for the differentials?

68ozs Bill. You'll need to buy 3 quarts because 2 won't quite do it..

 

[JetTech]

JetTech, sorry, I was not trying to put words in your mouth. I guess I see such great benefits from using synthetic especially the convienence of extended drain intervals. After reading the VW forums and comments at bobishteoilguy.com, I realized I was changing my oil too often.

I know what you mean in saying that 5K miles is easier to remember than 7500. But, hey, 10K is also pretty easy....

Hey John, don't worry about putting words in my mouth, I just wanted to make sure everyone understood factually what I had done, and then from the sample results can see that 7500 wouldn't be a problem. No apologies necessary and by the way, VW makes an awesome TDI engine, great choice!!

 

[JetTech]

[quote="k9mrussell]
I am at 5500 miles and had the 1st oil change at the dealership when Nissan recommended at around 3500. Should I have done it sooner???? Should I go ahead and change again now with the syn.? I want this truck to last 500,000 miles, so I want to do what is best. I didn't even take it over 4,000 rpm's for the 1st 1,200 miles!

What should I do? Please help!!!![/quote]

Hi k9!! Let's see, you have about 2K miles on the oil now and went 3500 to begin with. It wouldn't be a bad idea to dump the oil when you get a chance and run some Chevron Supreme or Texaco Havoline for another 2K miles and then go for the synthetics. I'm only recommending this so you can flush the system out before you start going 5K miles or more on a synthetic.

Personally I wouldn't sweat the 3500 miles on the factory fill oil. What's done is done and I'm sure everything will be fine. Heck a lot of people wait until 7500 for their first change!! 8O

Please make sure to check your differential fluid levels (front and rear if you have a 4x4) because the factory has a BAD habit of sending them out low, of which WILL cause you problems later on.

 

[BiXLL]

Hey JT, save me from looking it up, whats the fill amount for the differentials?

68ozs Bill. You'll need to buy 3 quarts because 2 won't quite do it..

Is that per differential, or for both?

 

[k9mrussell]

It wouldn't be a bad idea to dump the oil when you get a chance and run some Chevron Supreme or Texaco Havoline for another 2K miles and then go for the synthetics.

Please make sure to check your differential fluid levels (front and rear if you have a 4x4) because the factory has a BAD habit of sending them out low, of which WILL cause you problems later on.

Thanks for the info. I feel better about the oil now. I will change it asap and run for 2,000 miles before going to the syn!!!

Thanks for the heads up on the diff fluid. I see you have info posted about changing that, so I will get on that also. Looks easy enough.

Thanks again!!!!!

 

[JetTech]

Hey JT, save me from looking it up, whats the fill amount for the differentials?

68ozs Bill. You'll need to buy 3 quarts because 2 won't quite do it..

Is that per differential, or for both?

That's just for the rear diff Bill, the manual states (this is weird) 3 3/8 pints for the front diff. It appears this is going to be about 54ozs. If you buy 4 quarts of the Mobil 1 75W-90 you should have enough for the front and rear diffs.

 

[JetTech]

It wouldn't be a bad idea to dump the oil when you get a chance and run some Chevron Supreme or Texaco Havoline for another 2K miles and then go for the synthetics.

Please make sure to check your differential fluid levels (front and rear if you have a 4x4) because the factory has a BAD habit of sending them out low, of which WILL cause you problems later on.

Thanks for the info. I feel better about the oil now. I will change it asap and run for 2,000 miles before going to the syn!!!

Thanks for the heads up on the diff fluid. I see you have info posted about changing that, so I will get on that also. Looks easy enough.

Thanks again!!!!!

Changing/checking the diff fluid is a piece of cake k9. All you need is a 3/8 drive ratchet and, if you have one, a small 3" extension too. Don't worry if you don't have the extension because you can still do it with just a ratchet.

This pic might help you out a bit, if it's not of a high enough resolution or your having a hard time seeing it just go to my pics site and you'll see it there.

 

[BiXLL]

Thanks JT, that is exactly what I all ready bought!